Extract from my Pocket Book THE LAND OF MT. KINABALU . 2nd Edition, available as print on demand or eBook at http://lulu.com/spotlight/alpeusstephen
The Climbathon which is deemed as "the World's Toughest Mountain Race" is the ultimate challenge for the adventurous to prove their endurance by running up and down Mt. Kinabalu for a total distance of 21 kilometres. But annually this Climbathon attracts athletes who want to conquer the peak within two hours and thirty minutes.
The first climbathon was started in 1987 by Sabah Parks with the purpose of scouting for people to be in a squad for rapid rescue comprising rangers who are able to bring down injured climbers in a short time possible especially during harsh weather or when helicopters are not available. At this time the participants were Malaysians only, but in the following year it was opened for international participation.
This annual event was then organised by Sabah Tourism Board since 1995 and the Climbathon is now very popular to mountain runners in Europe. They make up the majority members in the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA). Malaysia is the first country in Asia as a member to WMRA. The Climbathon received a major boost when Malaysia won its bid to host the World Mountain Running Trophy in 1999 at Kinabalu National Park.
The 15th World Mountain Running Trophy 1999 was held on September, 1999 which involved running along a 12-kilometre route around Mount Kinabalu Park. (The usual Climbathon itself is running up and down the Mountain.) Hundreds of participants from tens of countries took part to compete for the Trophy. A week later the 13th Climbathon was held and the participation was also very satisfactory.
The 19th Climbathon in 2005 was endorsed as one of the 7 official races of the Federation for Sport at Altitude (FSA) for the Sky Running World Championship Circuit (racing on high altitude). Managing skyrunning from 1995 onwards, FSA regulated and coordinated the world series and the Kinabalu circuit of this series was the only race that is held outside Europe.
Today the Climbathon is organised in cooperation with the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF). Its headquarters is in Italy with registered office in Switzerland. The ISF is the only authority representing skyrunning to promote it and similar sport activities at altitude on a worldwide basis according to Olympic Charter. It was founded on July 19, 2008 in Canazei, Italy, by representatives from 10 countries together with the board and members of the FSA, which it replaces.
On October 22, 2010, after its 2nd General Assembly in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, the ISF has 16 member nations and 3 Associate Members. In the next Climbathon and the consecutive years more and more participations are expected to be registered for the men, women and veteran categories.
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